The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-12
rw1rcHELL.s UNPLEASANT TRIP.
The Progress of a Trick EIephant ana his
Manager From Chicago 30 Boston,

| Chicago Times.
During the time I was with - circus says
! James Twitchell, II took part 10 some exnlpi-
| tions that not down on tho oilis- One IN
| particular shall not be likely to forget Inc
show dis6anded at Chicago; Bamboo Ine TICK
| elephant, was leased to the Kiralfy brothers'
| who were about to open their season in Boston,
| BAN boo had es ia alshed name for himseil as
| savage and treacherous brute. who had Killed
| and MANNED at least dozen men De nau a
keeper who TO accompany him; but Keepers
| OF elephants. according to Charles Reade ana
| other authorities are much in the habit or be-
coming and remaining drunk. Such was the
| normal condition of the keeper of Bamboo he
could control the gigantic brute on emergency;
| but he knew nothing about the business. even
| when sober. and would be as helpless as an in
FAINT to effect the necessary change OF transpor-
tation at Buffalo, from the Lake Shore road TO
the New York Central, and at New fork TO the
sound steamboat Therefore some man or ousi-
ness must be sent along in the elephant car
happened to be the chosen victim. was fur
nished with $50, estimated as ample provision
for all contingencies, and, with drunken keep
er and a vicious elephant, started from Chicago
by the Lake Shore. New York Central and the
Twitchell tells the story of that trip. punctu-
ating it with more exclamation points than need
be used.
'I hadn't much idea." he said, ''of the danger
GUS character of the Journey until we were per-
hape hundred miles out OF Chicago Inc DOT
tom Of the car was thickiy Uttered with hay, In
which Bamboo the keeper. and myself were to
sleep together. The keepers bottle was one or
my earliest discoveries and discourasements
The novelty of the situation kept ms awake
pretty much all the first night out. and It was
with some dismay that ] discovered that the
keeper was hopeisss,y drunk, snoring 10 the
hay. That would not have minded had BAN
boo only kept quiet, but he didn't and
wouldn't and that first night, before had be-
come in the least accustomed to the situation.
was simply night OF horrors. Ia the Sun.
at the rate of thirty miles an hoor, would at
short intervals hear muffisd snort from the
monster at the other end of the car, and then
al rio fn0e
end Of his tru nix passing iuQuisitiveIy over my
face. Then / would jumD up and yell TO the
keeper, with energetic kicks TO emphasize my
remarks.
plant is going trample US Co DEATH
THE drunken keeper wonld get TO MS feet'
swear give Bamboo an unnerciful prodding
with his fork. the great brute would lie down
and cry, aud we would have peace.
This scene, with variations, is what happened
all the way from Chicago 20 New York. |
wasn't tram pied to death by the elephanti why
not do not know.
About daylight were in the vicinity or
Erie. Pa. Here Bamboo took cognizance OF his
surroundings in disagreeable way. Elephant
cars be IL understood. are specially ouiit ana
the car in which first embarked was not or
that kind It was not high enough nor strong
enough When the vicious brute had thorough
ly satisfied himself of these facts. he rose up
out of the hay, arcned his ugly back. and burst
the whole top of the car out
1--WE stopped at Erie There was loud swear
ing aud clamor by the railyoal men for compen-
sation for the damage l told them to SEND
their bill TO the Kiralfys. and, in the meantime.
If they didn't want the elephant on their nands
to take care OF. they had better help me to get
him TO Boston as fast as possible They took
lack at Bamboo. observed his vicious eye, and
said they guessed that WAS SO.
I'VE arrived a. Buffalo. A necessity OF the
trip was change OF cars 1t this point The
elepb ant bad been well fed and we'll wstered,
and might have had the decency to behave him
self The keeper got him out OF the wrecked
car IN good shape. and started him for his new
quarters In the waiting train. great pile OF
black berry crates near, but not at all in
the way. May be blamed il that devilish
brute didn't make for them and destroy twenty
four full crates before the keeper could restrain
..Weli, everybody knows the law about ele-
plants and other wild beasts. had to settle
for the blackbe-ri on the spot. and large hola
The most dangerous AID laboricus incident
OF our trip would not have happened but for the
fact that when the keeper was sober he would
smoke pipe. His smoking set the hay a-hre
near Syracuse. ana before it was discovered the
ear filled with smoke. the elephant was
snoring and trumpeting, and We couldn't stamp
out the fire.
I'VE had two buckets. 7 rushed with them
through the baggagecar. over the tender, got
the fireman il the cab to fill them. and ran back
with them to our This feat half dozen
times repeated, with the train going at express
speed, was no small task. The keeper took the
pals at the door Of orr car and doused the burn
ing hay with the water Simple business you
would say. TO put out s,lch q fire that way. So
1t would have been but for that elephant He
ssbsr for soon yery seeon p ss would
swing his trunk round overset the pals, and
spill the water anywhere bnt or the fire.
have heard something of tbs intelligence of the
elephant; this fellow was in panic until we got
the IRE out
Son Sunday morning we unloaded at the
Grand Central station in New York. and getting
into Broadway we marched triumphaptly down.
OF my $50 had left 81 so Bamboo had eaten
np and destroyed more than $50 worth. The
sv1o = h,,fx Rod
the larger part of the journey, had but
stage more. and had high hopes OF getting into
Boston Tuesday morning at the furthest.
presently one of the mounted police over
hauled at gallop
where's your permit he demanded, to
take the elephant through the street,
Il had to admit that We had none.
Then I'll have TO take him in charge
The keeper looked up with drunken leer.
+" You just do it, mister he said, we'd be
happy to have you
BAMBOO raised bis trunk 8 motion from
the keeper, snd gave terrific snort. The
mounted policeman disappeared.
Before We reached the lower part OF the CITY
foot policemen came up at intervals and de-
manded to see our permit The keeper always
averTed the utmost willingness TO surrender all
control OF his vicious charge to the polce. but
the offer was invariably declined Not always
with thanks but it declined.
with much trouble got the brute quar-
tered in barn on Crosby street We s,ept
with him. and ate cold junk for twenty-four
hours When we marched aboard the Sound
o'e-e'oE Win bSmooo. the next Gay, my 81. 0U
had gone. and the keeper and I had left our
coats for the elephants board Yet / presume
the crowd on the steamer thought it the correct
thing for gentlemen in care of an elephant 70
appear in shsir shirtsleeyes. So our dignity
was maintained.
The name OF Kralfy, aided I believe, by a
telegram from the management to the captain
OF the boat secured transportation and I
Iondiy fancied that my woes over, But
let no man put his trust in elephant! Ban
boo was reservlng his master-stroke for the fin
ISM In the streets of Boston we car. The
elephant deliberately killed the horse with one
do" or his trunk; the car was oversurned; the
passengers tainted. screamed and ran: short
pAriey was held with the police, which resulted
In npa triumphant procession 10 tbs Kiralfy
Darn FIRST. a very long distance ahead, walked
squad or police; next came Bamboo. his keeper.
auo BUSINESS manager; next, Mt respectful dis
lance In the rear dozen reporters; last several